Straightheads (2007) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

UK 2007
Director: Dan Reed
Cast: Gillian Anderson, Danny Dyer, Anthony Calf, Ralph Brown, Francesca Fowler
Rating: R
Release Date: 27 April 2007
Running Time: 1 hour 19 minutes

The Movie Review

Straightheads film still 1


STRAIGHTHEADS (CLOSURE)
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

There is nothing fairer and squarer to follow a heinous act of rape than a good painful bloody revenge. Ever since the theme of rape and revenge stormed the violent film era of the 70's, most moviegoers would agree, that a rape must be followed by harsh punishment. But since we're talking about movie, of course the right person that should carry that judgment is none other than victim herself.

>> Do note the following review inevitably may contain minor spoilers.

Straightheads, or better known in America as Closure, revolves around an accidental couple, Alice (Gillian Anderson of Johnny English Reborn (2011)) a sophisticated career woman and Adam (Danny Dyer of Malice in Wonderland (2009)), a 23-year old man who initially works in Alice house installing security cameras. Alice and Adam eventually go out on a date but on their way home, misfortunes await them. Alice got brutally raped by her three assailants and Adam got beaten up so badly that he almost loses his eye and suffers impotency. Alice and Adam go on with their life until Alice unintentionally bumps into one of the men who raped him near her father's house. Alice and Adam decide the only way to get their normal life back is to settle the bloody score.

Some rape-revenge flicks focuses on the drama, some on nudity, some on gore but this film here focuses on the thriller side. Of course, being a mainstream cinema as opposed to grindhouse material makes everything in Straightheads more classy. But probably the writer, Dan Reed, who's also the director went further to put some new material and twists in his first movie making Straightheads even darker... but it's so dark that it becomes obscure, this is one of the movies that made me feel annoyed of the victims, that's right the victims! The characters are very weird, first of all, there isn't enough background of the villains that'd make us truly despise them, second of all, the characters shifting is not good. You see, one of the victims is a coward who changes into a deadly avenger, while the other is a furious person who suddenly changes into a savior. I don't mind watching a deeply angry person having mercy on the people who have wronged him(or her), but Straightheads is just not very good at presenting us that character. Besides as good as Gillian Anderson and Danny Dyer, they tend to be one character-person in this British thriller film.

About 45 minutes into the movie I almost hopeless about the movie, but the ending is the best part. It's violent and unflinching. The rape scene in the beginning is already graphic and violent and Gillian Anderson shows her good acting talent in this scene, it's a heavy scene to stare for female viewers, although much tamer compared to the 70's roughies. But the revenge part (the ending), although predictable, is very very intense. Anyway, thanks to this ending scene, my time is not wasted feeling annoyed, if the ending is good than it leaves good impression. Just remember, the road to this satisfying ending is full annoying twists, Gillian Anderson gracing the screen with her topless scenes, weird sub-plot and awkward characters.

> Get even get dead: The Last House on the Left (1972), Thriller: A Cruel Picture (1974),
I Spit on Your Grave (1978) and Ms. 45 (1981).